Receive the latest national-international updates in your inbox

The FBI says Luis Delgarza, photo inset from October 2012 arrest by Dallas Police, is the "Mesh Mask Bandit" responsible for more than a dozen bank robberies across North Texas. He was arrested and charged with robbing a Wells Fargo Bank in Farmers Branch on April 22. (Published Friday, Jun 21, 2013)

Updated at 7:43 AM EST on Saturday, Jun 22, 2013

The FBI says it has finally arrested the North Texas man believed to be the "Mesh Mask Bandit."

The FBI said Luis Delagarza, 59, of Farmers Branch, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with committing armed bank robbery.

FBI Photos of "Mesh Mask Bandit"

Delagarza was once considered one of the most dynamic local leaders in the Latino community.

"This was somebody that associated with some of the most important people in Dallas," said Carlos Quintanilla, Accion America president and longtime community activist.

NBC 5's sister station Telemundo interviewed Delagarza several years ago about immigration reform.

The FBI said a witness identified Delagarza from a photo lineup.

According to the FBI's complaint and affidavit, the witness saw the face of the man who robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in the 13000 block of Josey Lane in Farmers Branch on April 22.

The bank is blocks from Delagarza's home.

The witness reported seeing the man's face both before he pulled on his dark mask and entered the bank with a handgun and after the robbery, when he removed the mask outside the bank.

"The identification of the 'Mesh Mask Bandit' by the FBI's Bank Robbery Task Force was the result of collaborative local and federal investigation across nine cities," said Diego G. Rodriguez, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Division. "The arrest of this dangerous individual illustrates the effectiveness of task forces, the support provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office and cooperation within the law enforcement community."

The FBI had dubbed the bank robber the Mesh Mask Bandit because of his mesh mask that hid his face.

The Mesh Mask Bandit was linked to robberies at 19 banks in North Texas since New Year's Eve.